Central Idea Basics
What is the formula we use to write a central idea statement?
What is...
Title of the Article + Author + Summary Action Word + Central Idea You Discovered.
Define the difference between explicit and implicit central ideas.
Explicit = directly stated in the text. Implicit = not directly stated, you must infer from details.
What are supporting details in a text?
Facts, examples, or reasons that back up the central idea.
What is the difference between a topic and a central idea?
What is...The topic is the subject (one word or short phrase). The central idea is the big point the author makes about the topic.
If an author writes, “Electric cars will soon replace gas-powered cars,” is that central idea explicit or implicit?
Explicit (the author directly states the central idea).
Why is it important to include evidence when writing a central idea statement?
Evidence proves your central idea is accurate and supported by the text.
Which is the stronger central idea for an article about wildfires?
A) “Wildfires burn trees.”
B) “Climate change and human activity have increased wildfires, requiring new prevention strategies.”
What is...
B) “Climate change and human activity have increased wildfires, requiring new prevention strategies.”
If an article gives facts about music helping people relax but never directly says “music reduces stress,” is the central idea explicit or implicit?
Implicit (you figure it out based on the details about music).
If an article says “millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean each year,” how does that detail support the central idea about ocean pollution?
It shows the scale of the problem and supports the central idea that plastic pollution is a serious threat.